2007-02-14 06:16:04 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Most Western languages come from a common Latin / Greek origin, therefore words and grammar constructs and sounds are similar in these languages e.g. English, French, German, Italian, Spanish. Hence European foreigners tend to speak quite good english because the tranistion is not that difficult.
Japanese evolved along a completely different path and has different grammar, different alphabets, word order rules and constructs. Some Japanese words cannot be directly translated into English without losing some of the meaning. It is therefore more difficult for Japanese people to learn English and vice versa because the language concepts and sounds are so alien between the two languages
2007-02-14 06:23:48 · answer #1 · answered by Mike 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Grammar rules are different in Japanese so basically, the stereotypical answer would be because it is difficult to master the grammatical structures in English. Pronunciation is another issue. There are a ton more phonetic sounds in English than in Japanese. So learning to make those sounds properly takes intense training. And that is something that most Japanese don't have.
I do know some very good Japanese English speakers. But they are far and few between.
2007-02-14 10:50:48 · answer #2 · answered by Looking for the truth... 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ha ha, very direct question.
you must see the NHK 9pm news english version. if your TV can switch the language, then you can watch the news with english voice over.
they got 2 native english speaker together with 2-3 japanese cruels doing the english voice over.
the japanese cruels are disaster!!!
watch it and you will know what i mean.
even a japanese (my friend) can not stand that terrible english!
i am speaking 3 languages, and able to understand another one language (understand what people talking but can not speak it.)
i consider my japanese language is still in an elementary state, my engish is no where near perfect.
even my own language, i still make a lot of mistake on writing n spelling. because i hate language.
but i am sure, i can speak english a lot better than that professional NHK eve news translator!
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2007-02-14 13:28:21 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, certainly, not all Japanese people speak atrocious English. Let's show a wee bit of mercy here. The fact is that all Asian languages differ completey from English. Therein lies the challenge. While Spanish and Italian, for instance sound like they look, Asian languages are more gutteral, and sound very foreign to the English ear. You have to listen with your heart. I'm trying on some Vietnamese for size and enjoying it, but I'm sure I sound comical and even atrocious to my Viet friends and teachers. I still enjoy my efforts, and well, you know, "love in any language."...la la la .
2007-02-14 06:27:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My girlfriend is Japanese, and her English is better than alot of people who were born here ! Uh, how well do you speak Japanese ? Probably not at all ! Most Japanese have no need to speak English...
2007-02-14 16:42:35 · answer #5 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English phonetics are really tough for Japanese speakers, a lot harder than for us to speak Japanese. Plus most of them don't get taught to speak in school, so they never really learn English phonics.
But despite this there are lots of Japanese out there who can speak beautiful English!
2007-02-14 17:00:18 · answer #6 · answered by Big D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude I speak perfect english and I'm Japanese. So I don't see the logic in your question.
How's your Japanese?
Nihongo shabereruno? Shabererunn dattara wakarukedo, shaberimo shinai yatsu ga gatagata ittenjane-yo.
IMS, when people are treated "rudely" at a certain vendor, most of them choose to discontinue going back. There's a reason why you keep going back to this certain store and maybe that's why they don't bother to learn the language. Because they have good business.
2007-02-14 08:26:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I actually find the way they speak English (not necessarily sing perhaps... depending) quite endearing (if we're not talking *perfect* english). The beauty is that they are so very polite, which is wonderful. Unfortunately this doesn't help with your question but alas there's no 'general comments' section.
2007-02-14 18:02:47 · answer #8 · answered by mosey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably because they learn their English from other Japanese people. However, when I lived in Japan I did meet a Japanese woman who spoke perfect English. She couldn't understand a word I said, though.
2007-02-14 06:19:56 · answer #9 · answered by ginger 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The same reason English-speaking people speak atrocious Japanese?
2007-02-14 06:18:25 · answer #10 · answered by Okayla 3 · 9⤊ 3⤋